The latest survey from Magid Associates looking at gaming trends and attitudes found that while console gaming is still the biggest sector, mobile and social gaming have made big strides, becoming the number 2 and number 3 platforms for gaming. The survey also found that more than half of consumers in every demographic group from 8 to 54 play games. Magid's survey, taken from a nationally representative online sample of 2540 people between the ages of 8 and 64, was collected from March 19 through March 26.

The survey found that 64 percent play video or computer games, and that gaming has become the #2 household entertainment expenditure, behind only the TV/internet bill. The average Internet-using household spends a combined $80 per month on TV and Internet, while spending on gaming averages $20 per month, and movie and TV show purchases average $17.

"The console is still king: Console gaming has more players, money and time spent than any other platform," the report noted. Some 20 percent of U.S. respondents 8-64 said they "can't live without a game console." Among male console gamers between 12 and 24 who play on their console at least once a week, some 60 percent say they can't live without their console, only slightly less than the 62 percent that said they can't live without their PC or laptop.

Mobile and social games have passed PC games, online portals, handheld games and MMOs in popularity. While console games are still the most popular gaming activity, console gamers are getting their gaming fix across multiple platforms.

The survey found that console gaming is poised for small growth in 2012, based on the fact that gamers overall in the survey expect to spend more money on console games than they have in the past year. This is difficult to reconcile with the alarming decline in retail sales, unless you assume that much of the difference will be made up with sales of downloadable content (DLC). Supporting this idea, the survey found that most console gamers are now aware of DLC, and one-third have purchased DLC.

"Tablet users are gravitating towards gaming as the primary use for the device"
Looking at the numbers, the survey found that 50 percent played console games at least once a week, compared to 44 percent for mobile, 37 percent for social (with both mobile and social up from 3 percent in 2010, an amazing rise) and 24 percent for handheld games. Gamers spent 7.2 hours weekly playing console games, followed closely by social gamers with 6.7 hours spent every week.

The survey also looked at tablet gaming, and found that "tablet users are gravitating towards gaming as the primary use for the device." Playing games is now the #2 use for tablets, with only "accessing the internet" ahead of it. Perhaps more importantly, games are the top monetizable content category on tablets. The survey found that the average tablet gamer downloaded 20+ games last year, and 23 percent of tablet gamers are paying for virtual goods, averaging $62 per spender.

Smartphones are also an important gaming platform, with almost half of smartphone users playing games regularly on their devices (43 percent overall; 52 percent for iPhone users, and 42 percent for Android users). As with tablets, games are the top monetizable content on smartphones, with the average smartphone gamer downloading 10+ games last year. Some 14 percent of smartphone gamers are paying for virtual goods, averaging $25 per spender.

Looking at survey numbers is always a useful reality check, especially when the industry in question is changing rapidly. Consumer tastes also change, and it's very important to separate your own personal likes and dislikes from what the marketplace is doing. Survey numbers help point to overall trends in the marketplace, and can be important guides to strategic decisions.

Sometimes I put my nose in my dog's butt and I furiously squeeze his belly until he farts.

May 2009
2,434 Posts

Yeah, but that's combining numbers across all consoles, is it not? So all the PS3 players, plus the 360 players, plus the Wii players will more than likely outnumber the PC players. Let's not get started on handhelds. That's why I dislike statistical information, because most of the time it's irresponsibly or short-sightedly done.

Yeah, but that's combining numbers across all consoles, is it not? So all the PS3 players, plus the 360 players, plus the Wii players will more than likely outnumber the PC players. Let's not get started on handhelds. That's why I dislike statistical information, because most of the time it's irresponsibly or short-sightedly done.

that and lets be honest, custom built PC's for the same price of a console. If you were a family man, what are you going to buy? PC sounds really complex to many people.

But combining statistics is pretty bad, at the same time, they're all consoles in the end. I think it's very fair to combine them.

Yeah, but that's combining numbers across all consoles, is it not? So all the PS3 players, plus the 360 players, plus the Wii players will more than likely outnumber the PC players. Let's not get started on handhelds. That's why I dislike statistical information, because most of the time it's irresponsibly or short-sightedly done.

They separated handheld devices and tablets as two separate categories. But it seems that they lumped all consoles into "console players".

I still find it a fair statistic. Because doing Xbox 360 vs PC isn't console vs. PC. So you have to include everything that is a console (wii, ps3, xbox360).

Would be stupid to compare just one console to the PC when you are trying to see which mode of play is most popular between consoles and PCs.

Also, for the first couple of posts, this article isn't saying that Console gamers are the best gamers on the planet or that consoles are better than PCs. It is saying that more people play consoles than play PC games.

They separated handheld devices and tablets as two separate categories. But it seems that they lumped all consoles into "console players".

I still find it a fair statistic. Because doing Xbox 360 vs PC isn't console vs. PC. So you have to include everything that is a console (wii, ps3, xbox360).

Would be stupid to compare just one console to the PC when you are trying to see which mode of play is most popular between consoles and PCs.

I just don't agree with it because PC is "one unit," however customizable. Numbers should be compared to each different console. While I do see what they are doing, why they did it and their logical reasoning, I would have just included the individual numbers along with those numbers.

Yeah, but that's combining numbers across all consoles, is it not? So all the PS3 players, plus the 360 players, plus the Wii players will more than likely outnumber the PC players. Let's not get started on handhelds. That's why I dislike statistical information, because most of the time it's irresponsibly or short-sightedly done.

Well a poll of 2540 people from the US is hardly a representation of the whole world, and lets not forget that PC players usually also own at least one console.

I've met a few idiots that thought PC gaming is EASIER than console gaming. Console gaming definitely has the advantage of being easier and more hassle free; that's why many people stick with it. PC gaming has much more potential though.

I've met a few idiots that thought PC gaming is EASIER than console gaming. Console gaming definitely has the advantage of being easier and more hassle free; that's why many people stick with it. PC gaming has much more potential though.

I'm interested in seeing how far the "ease of use" advantage will go in the next few years though, because at the current rate with the implementation of online passes and things of that nature, I can see consoles eventually becoming an inconvenience.

Several surveys have said that way over 50% of all folks are gamers across all demographics up to 60ish. I think this is fantastic for many different reasons.

As ever, pro's will have a top spec gaming PC, PS3 and xBoX minimum. I got all three and I struggle to seperate them. Each has it's advantages, but tbh I think the most raging douchebags are on the xBoX.

It doesn't mean they should be shunned either.
Consoles have some games that the PC does not, and by being an ignorant elitest and shunning consoles completely you're missing out on some good games.
Elitism on any side is a bad thing.

It doesn't mean they should be shunned either.
Consoles have some games that the PC does not, and by being an ignorant elitest and shunning consoles completely you're missing out on some good games.
Elitism on any side is a bad thing.

Quality over Quantity, nuff said. i find pc players much more enjoyable people.

Haha wow!

"Quality over quantity" my ass, have you ever played an online PC game before? There are just as many retards and trolls in TF2, CS, WoW, and every other game as there are in any console game, both communities are shit for the most part.

Some 20 percent of U.S. respondents 8-64 said they "can't live without a game console." Among male console gamers between 12 and 24 who play on their console at least once a week, some 60 percent say they can't live without their console, only slightly less than the 62 percent that said they can't live without their PC or laptop.